1
2
as in to shift
to change one's position
the cat stirred, then opened its eyes and slowly got to its feet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to provoke
to rouse to strong feeling or action
news coverage of the fire stirred many to send donations to a fund for the families who had lost their homes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
the plane's first jolt caused a stir among the passengers, and by the third one they were in a panic
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in shifting
the act or an instance of changing position
we were warned that the slightest stir would scare the mother bird so we hardly dared to breathe
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as in jail
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody
the mule had just got out of stir and was being followed by the feds, who had their sights set on the kingpin of the operation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stir
Virginia Willis, AJC.com, 11 Jan. 2026
And yet none of the usual human chemistry stirred.
—Dan Turello, New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2026
Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
The hot egg coffee might look a bit murky, but is very sweet and creamy, with a layer of coffee at the bottom that gives a strong hit at the end despite a good stir.
—Arundhati Hazra, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stir
Verb
Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 10 minutes.
—Virginia Willis, AJC.com, 11 Jan. 2026
And yet none of the usual human chemistry stirred.
—Dan Turello, New Yorker, 10 Jan. 2026
Noun
The project will receive nearly $70 million in tax-increment financing that created a stir among rival casino properties in Reno and was ultimately approved in a 5-2 vote last May by the city’s redevelopment agency.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2026
The hot egg coffee might look a bit murky, but is very sweet and creamy, with a layer of coffee at the bottom that gives a strong hit at the end despite a good stir.
—Arundhati Hazra, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for stir
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stir
Verb
-
Controversy has swirled since Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn and other officials announced before the new year that the city has entered into a three-year contract agreement with Cataldo Ambulance Service, breaking course from Armstrong.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
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Despite OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Sora services capturing an increasing amount of consumer engagement and concerns swirling around the future of online advertising in a world of AI chatbots and agents, Alphabet has managed to ward off fears that its most innovative days are in the past.—
Jennifer Elias,
CNBC,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The move reflects a shifting tennis sponsorship landscape, with classic brands long associated with the professional tour, like Fila, Sergio Tacchini, and Ellesse, being replaced by younger activewear brands like FP Movement, Lululemon, and Vuori.—
Jessica Schiffer,
Vogue,
14 Jan. 2026
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These structures prevent data center costs from shifting to residential customers.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Analysts and insiders told CBS News the scale of the response to Pahalvi's call could determine whether the deadly, 12-day-old protests fizzle out as previous rounds of unrest have, or grow into a major challenge to the government, and provoke a possible wider crackdown.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Intrusive thoughts provoke an anxious spiral as the moon and Saturn oppose.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Re-wash and dry the garment, using these tips to avoid re-shrinking, to prevent a residue from the conditioner from setting.—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Add a small amount of a gentle liquid detergent recommended for hand-washing delicate items, such as Woolite, and swish to disperse through the water.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Enrollment Though still growing overall, state economists reported in early January that K-12 enrollment numbers were nearly 42,500 lower than predicted, with signs of continuing downward trends moving forward.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
12 Jan. 2026
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Researchers at the University of Manchester, led by Professor Thomas Anthopoulos, have successfully stabilized perovskite solar cells, which could help move the low-cost technology into the global mass market.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The teeth also captured climate shifts such as the Late Antique Little Ice Age and the Medieval Climate Anomaly, which might have encouraged some increase in migration into England.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
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Those who experienced the earthquake are encouraged to report it via the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Then, Grace whisked her daughter off to the remote Galápagos Islands, widely interpreted as an effort to distance her from the escalating romance, away from press and palace pressure.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
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We are immediately being whisked from room to room as our doctors on the day shift get to work.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Rather than activating the olfactory nerve, the system stimulates the trigeminal nerve, a sensory pathway in the nasal cavity responsible for conveying touch, temperature, and irritation.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
12 Jan. 2026
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These channels are tuned to trigger a voltage spike and tell the trap to close only if stimulated multiple times in rapid succession.—
Elise Cutts,
Quanta Magazine,
12 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Stir.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stir. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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